Matthew 5

1 And seeing the crowds he went up onto the mountain; and when he had sat down his disciples came to him. 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

11 “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and say every evil thing against you, lying, because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in the heavens; for that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt becomes tasteless, with what will it be salted? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown outside and trampled underfoot by people. [b] 14 You are the light of the world. A city lying on top of a mountain cannot be hidden; 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under the measuring bowl, but on the lampstand, and it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine in front of people, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in the heavens.

17 “Do not think that I came to tear down the law or the prophets; I did not come to tear down but to fulfill. 18 For amen I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota, not one stroke will pass away from the law, until everything has happened. [c] 19 So whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people the same will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens; but whoever does them and teaches them, this one will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens. 20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness overflows beyond that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never go into the kingdom of the heavens.

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You are not to murder’; and, ‘Whoever murders will be liable to the judgment.’ [e] 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raka,’ will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘Fool,’ will be liable to the Gehenna of fire. [f]

23 “So if you are bringing your gift to the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go — first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and bring your gift.

25 “Be well disposed toward your opponent at law quickly, while you are with him on the road, so that the opponent does not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Amen I say to you, you will never come out of there until you pay back the last quadrans. [h]

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You are not to commit adultery.’ [i] 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman so as to set his desire on her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [j] † 29 And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is to your advantage that one of your limbs be destroyed and not your whole body be thrown into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is to your advantage that one of your limbs be destroyed and not your whole body go off into Gehenna.

31 “And it was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ [k] 32 But I say to you that everyone who sends his wife away, apart from a matter of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who has been sent away commits adultery. [l]

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You are not to swear falsely, but you are to render to the Lord what you have sworn.’ [m] 34 But I say to you not to swear at all — neither by heaven, because it is God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, because it is the footstool of his feet; nor toward Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King; [n] 36 nor are you to swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your word be ‘Yes, yes,’ ‘No, no’; and anything beyond these comes from the evil one. [o]

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ [p] 39 But I say to you not to stand against the evil one; but whoever strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well; 40 and to the one who wants to go to law with you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; 41 and whoever presses you into service for one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You are to love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [q] 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [r] † 45 so that you may become sons of your Father who is in the heavens; because he makes his sun rise on evil and good, and rains on righteous and unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing? Do not the people of the nations do the same? [s] 48 So you are to be complete, as your heavenly Father is complete.” [t]